VZCZCXRO8651
OO RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #3400/01 2351239
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O 231239Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6688
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1098
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
RHWSMRC/MCF01 SACCS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003400 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B; 
RRU-NEA 
IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR MCKUNE 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION: LEBANON 
 
¶1.  Summary:  The unsigned editorial in "Al-Bayan" considers UNSCR 
1701 doomed to failure.  A UAE columnist in "Al-Ittihad" examines 
the impact of Iranian aid to Lebanon through Hezbullah.  A UAE 
businessman wondered in "Al-Bayan" when the Americans will realize 
that they were not Arabs' friends and emphasized that Americans 
should review their relationship with Israel.  An unsigned editorial 
in "Al-Khaleej" considered President Bush's call for a new UN 
Resolution to disarm Hezbollah as the first drop in the ocean of the 
new Middle East.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  On 08/23, Emirati columnist Mohammed Al-Hammadi wrote in his 
column in the Abu Dhabi-based semi-official Arabic-language daily 
"Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000): 
 
"... The financial assistance promised by the Arab States to 
reconstruct Lebanon, which was stressed by the Arab Foreign 
Ministers at their meeting a few days ago, should not be delayed or 
be transferred at a turtle's pace.  The Lebanese suffering and their 
substantial losses cannot withstand the typical bureaucracy from our 
Arab institutions.  This is especially true because Iran, a 
competing State in the region, has immediately sent its cash 
assistance to the Lebanese through "Hizbullah" in front of all the 
major satellite channels.  We must admit that the Iranian funds have 
succeeded in having a psychological and moral impact on the hearts 
of the Lebanese people.  The tangible effects will show within a few 
weeks with the Lebanese rebuilding their own houses." 
 
¶3. Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," (circulation 85,000) 08/23 
editorialized: 
 
"There is no reason to adopt a resolution calling for a second 
international resolution, unless the objective is to grant Israel 
what it has failed to obtain through its aggression, massacres, 
destruction and displacement...  Those who seek to pass a new 
resolution by the Security Council in favor of Israel should first 
protect Resolution 1701...  Israel's continuing violations could 
ignite the situation again in a way that could exceed what happened 
during the previous days of the aggression." 
 
¶4. UAE Businessman, Khalaf Ahmed Al-Habtoor, wrote in his op-ed in 
Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan, (circulation 85,000) on 08/23: 
 
"... Some Americans are becoming obsessed with this question: "Why 
do they hate us?" when they watch satellite channels showing Arabs 
and Muslims burning American flags...  George W. Bush, for his own 
objectives, wants us to believe that extremist elements hate 
democracy and freedom.  However, the Pentagon published a 2004 
report on its website in greater openness.  It says: "Muslims do not 
hate our freedom, but dislike our policies.  The vast majority of 
them express their objections against what they see as biased 
support to Israel against Palestinian rights. Therefore, when 
addressing American public diplomacy efforts to introduce democratic 
Islamic societies, Muslims see only hypocrisy in the service of 
American interests."  This is true.  Arabs and Muslims' anger 
simmers because of the American bias in favor of Israel, which is 
evident every time the United Nations through the Security Council 
tries to reach a resolution condemning Israel.  It simmers every 
time we see the United States use its right of veto, which is often 
the sole opposing voice.  It is time now for the United States to 
revert to the role of impartial mediator, which it had previously 
played and reconsider the nature of its country's relations with 
Israel.  There is no doubt that the day will come when Americans 
will question whether Israel is really one of their most loyal 
friends or that it is just befriending America, so long as America 
continues to support it financially, wage wars on its behalf, and 
turn a blind eye to the war crimes it commits." 
 
¶5.  Sharjah-based Arabic-language daily "Al-Khaleej" editorialized 
on 8/23/06 (circulation 90,000): 
 
"U.S. President George W. Bush wants to pass a new resolution at the 
United Nations Security Council to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon, 
while his partner, Prime Minister of the Zionist entity, Ehud Olmert 
seeks to hold a dialogue with the Lebanese government to normalize 
relations between Lebanon and the Zionist entity.  These two things 
are like one drop in the new sea of the Middle East, which America 
wants to place on the remains of the Arab world...  The catastrophic 
part of all this is that everything is publicly declared, and yet 
 
ABU DHABI 00003400  002 OF 002 
 
 
some continue to believe and wager that Bush's era can carry peace. 
Reality and the Arabs' experience shows that Arabs during Bush's era 
will only see wars, embargoes and sanctions.  The neoconservatives 
will not change their schemes or their perceptions through any 
means...  There is no alternative except for the Arabs to start 
thinking about protecting themselves during this period." 
 
QUINN